Jackson's utaka
Copadichromis jacksoni
Also known as Jacksoni hap
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
Jackson's utaka is a large but gentle plankton feeder for a peaceful Malawi community. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The name jacksoni most likely honors Peter Jackson, a fisheries scientist who surveyed the fishes of Lake Malawi in the mid twentieth century. The describer never spelled out who was meant.
Caring for the Jackson's utaka
Give a group of Jackson's utaka a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), with length and depth. Lay a sandy floor with a few large boulders, and build rock along the back to form the drop-off it patrols. It cruises open midwater above the rocks, so leave a wide area of clear swimming room.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. It feeds on small planktonic foods. Offer good flake and micro pellet alongside frozen mysis, cyclops and brine shrimp.
Keep it as a group with more females than males. Let the school settle its own order rather than fixing on one fish. It gets on with other calm haps and peacocks of its size, so it does not need a species tank.
A breeding male holds a display site over a boulder, where he defends a territory and displays to passing females. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is of moderate difficulty.
Good to know
Copadichromis jacksoni is a member of the family Cichlidae and one of the larger utaka, the plankton-feeding cichlids of Lake Malawi.
In the wild
Jackson's utaka lives in the sheltered bays of Lake Malawi. It schools in open water close to steep, rocky shores, where it breeds.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Jackson's utaka is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Common questions
What size tank does a Jackson's utaka need?
A Jackson's utaka needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Jackson's utaka need?
A Jackson's utaka is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Jackson's utaka eat?
A Jackson's utaka eats small planktonic foods. Offer good flake and micro pellet with frozen mysis, cyclops and brine shrimp.
How big does a Jackson's utaka get?
An adult Jackson's utaka reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
How does a Jackson's utaka breed?
A Jackson's utaka is a maternal mouthbrooder, and breeding it is of moderate difficulty. A breeding male holds a display site over a boulder and displays to passing females.
Related species
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Copadichromis cyaneus
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